The first thing you notice about Sean Monahan is his deep voice. He's also incredibly well-spoken. Calgary's sixth overall selection in the 2013 NHL Draft comes across as incredibly focused on improving as a hockey player and challenging for a roster spot in Calgary in the fall.

I had the chance to chat with Monahan briefly in-between sessions at Calgary Flames development camp this past week.

Sean Monahan: I honestly don't think anything's changed. I'm just trying to be the same person, same player, no matter what. I think that, obviously you're drafted to an NHL team now, you're got something to look forward to. I'm trying to make the NHL, so that's I guess the biggest thing. There's an opportunity there, so I think just getting in the gym and on the ice, I'm working that much harder because I'm looking towards something and I'm really looking forward to that.

THE FLAMES HAVE GIVEN YOU A LOW NUMBER (23) AND THE TEAM USED A LOT OF YOUNG GUYS DOWN THE STRETCH THAT ARE HERE AT THIS CAMP. GOING INTO THE SUMMER, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PREPARE FOR YOUR CRACK AT PRO CAMP?

I think it's just a lot of hard work. You've got to be committed. I think obviously you've got to go to the gym for two hours, two and a half hours, whatever it is... You've gotta work as hard as you can there. You have to carry yourself well after the gym. You have to eat properly, get the right sleep if you want to be prepared and want to be a pro. All the little things there is throughout the summer until you get to the next camp, if I get invited, I think I've got to be ready for that and that's what I'm looking forward to.

HAVE ANY FLAMES REACHED OUT TO YOU TO HELP YOU PREPARE FOR THE TRANSITION?

I got to skate with Mike Cammalleri twice now, back home in Toronto. He was there and [I saw him] at my gym and asked me to come out and skate. I got to talk to him and he told me about Calgary and how it's run. It was encouraging words and I feel really comfortable here. The staff's great, the coaching staff is obviously great, too. All the players on my team and all the players at this camp make you feel very welcome, and the fans, too.

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Ryan Pike has covered the Calgary Flames since 2010. He's Senior Contributing Editor at FlamesNation, a Senior Writer covering the Flames and the NHL Draft for The Hockey Writers, and a correspondent for the Fischler Report. You can see his hand or the side of his head on TV sometimes.

Hopefully he gets over this, no doubt though he has a boat load of raw talent. Think he must shed 10-15 pounds to get to NHL, but between him and Mark Stone on Brandon he actually stood out more often talent wise for me, as his greasy hands in tight are impressive (Stone's work ethic was far superior). Also managed to salvage last season with a good showing for Saskatoon late playing a more uptempo game, before they blew it in the playoffs. Like you not writing him off yet.

Found a fairly interesting well produced UND series featuring Corbin Knight from this season on youtube. The guy seems like a gem of a person and an unreal player think he has Top. 6 potential down the road with his skill set and Hockey IQ, anyway checkout the links if your interested. These links are just the main episodes that feature Knight including the last one, which is the teams lost to Yale. A recognizable face ices UND in that one (Episode 8, 12, 21 are below).

I was at the Dev Camp today till 11am, so I saw most of the guys in group A. Monahan stood out by far. Here are some observations:
The other guy who looked really good was Knight. Johnny G is fast, like really fast. Michael Ferland has pretty soft hands and good reflex. Morgan Klimchuck is a hard worker, and Jon Gillies will get us to the playoffs in the next 3-4 yrs. He is very solid.

Ryan, I think I saw you there. I also saw Patty Steinberg. Someone please tell him it's Stampede wear!!

I was at the Dev Camp today till 11am, so I saw most of the guys in group A. Monahan stood out by far. Here are some observations:
The other guy who looked really good was Knight. Johnny G is fast, like really fast. Michael Ferland has pretty soft hands and good reflex. Morgan Klimchuck is a hard worker, and Jon Gillies will get us to the playoffs in the next 3-4 yrs. He is very solid.

Ryan, I think I saw you there. I also saw Patty Steinberg. Someone please tell him it's Stampede wear!!

I was at the Dev Camp today till 11am, so I saw most of the guys in group A. Monahan stood out by far. Here are some observations:
The other guy who looked really good was Knight. Johnny G is fast, like really fast. Michael Ferland has pretty soft hands and good reflex. Morgan Klimchuck is a hard worker, and Jon Gillies will get us to the playoffs in the next 3-4 yrs. He is very solid.

Ryan, I think I saw you there. I also saw Patty Steinberg. Someone please tell him it's Stampede wear!!

Overall, very excited about the kids this season and the next few.

Glad to hear this about Ferland. I think he will impress this go-round. He's a kid with a mean hockey streak. And he does have soft hands and good reflexes.

By the sounds of it from Scott Cruickshank, Ben Hanowski lost 8-10 pounds to help towards increasing foot speed is now down to 205 lbs. Lets hope they have Micheal Ferland rooming with him and not Mark Jankowski/Johnny Gaudreau!!!!

While were at it lets also keep him away from Cochrane native Coda Gordon.... Micheal Ferland has the tools to make it to the NHL, but needs to get game/life in check.

By the sounds of it from Scott Cruickshank, Ben Hanowski lost 8-10 pounds to help towards increasing foot speed is now down to 205 lbs. Lets hope they have Micheal Ferland rooming with him and not Mark Jankowski/Johnny Gaudreau!!!!

While were at it lets also keep him away from Cochrane native Coda Gordon.... Micheal Ferland has the tools to make it to the NHL, but needs to get game/life in check.

Hopefully he gets over this, no doubt though he has a boat load of raw talent. Think he must shed 10-15 pounds to get to NHL, but between him and Mark Stone on Brandon he actually stood out more often talent wise for me, as his greasy hands in tight are impressive (Stone's work ethic was far superior). Also managed to salvage last season with a good showing for Saskatoon late playing a more uptempo game, before they blew it in the playoffs. Like you not writing him off yet.

You all know I like Dorsett. Ferland could be a similar type player for us. Perhaps with more offencive upside. He may be lugging a few extra kilos, but he can still skate. If he can get intop game shape....

I had pretty much written Ferland off as a prospect, but every time I see him, I see so much potential. He's big, tough and mean, and still his skill stands out above most others. I think he's just really lazy, and I don't know if he can change.

Corban Knight impressed me more than anyone today. He just looks so solid. The drills are going in both directions at once, so it's hard to keep up, but somehow he was managing to get back defensively and break up plays. He showed some very smooth hands on multiple occasions as well.

Janko looks pretty good in the one on one battles (he was up against Kulak, McKenzie and Ramage). His reach is definitely a big advantage. He looked reasonably strong, but I can't say it looks like he's bulked up at all over last year.

Johnny G of course showed the most flash, he was the most fun to watch.

Poirier did nothing to impress, but he was mostly in the far end, so I didn't get a real good look.

Monahan was pretty much as expected, solid and skilled.

Klimchuk was noticeable for his hustle. I didn't see a whole lot of skill, but he was always on the puck.

Kulak is my favourite D prospect, but didn't look great. Sieloff was about the only D that looked good. Maybe that's a sign of some more skill in the forward ranks!

Anyone else watch that Tim Harrison interview on flames.com... HE IS NOT FICTIONAL!!!! The kid looks like another Jankowski lite, huge lanky project with decent stride and hands. He also is very well spoken, but he is going to Colgate after all. Which to anyone who doesn't know is a liberal arts college that is second only to the top Ivy League schools if that. Weisbrod and company seem to have the NCAA players figured out.

He just seems a lot like Ryan Howse. I just don't get the best vibe from him and that whole legal issue doesn't do much to change my mind. Troy Ward doesn't seem to like him either.
Seems like a marginal prospect at best but I would be happy to be proven wrong (or even see him traded).

Jankowski is the big key for me on a lot of questions. If he looks like a player it kind of validates the Weisbrod philosophy to me. Perhaps unfair for just one guy but Weisbrod was sold on Jankowski's potential.

Henrique is their #1 centre, I doubt they just move him cause they're bleeding money as an organization.

I went to the 2pm skate today, it's not like you can tell a whole lot about a player when you barely ever see him, but I thought Ken Agostino looked solid out there. His skating, puck control and speed all looked good to me - for the 45 minutes it was on display.

I agree with the stuff away from the rink and its worrisome, but Howse was a lazy perimeter Junior scorer that let his linemates do all the work. Ferland offers much more for me as a prospect (Size, Grit, Hands, as good or better finish), but need to get conditioning and effort level in check. IMO, he will at least be a serviceable AHLer could still pan out if he works on things.

He just seems a lot like Ryan Howse. I just don't get the best vibe from him and that whole legal issue doesn't do much to change my mind. Troy Ward doesn't seem to like him either.
Seems like a marginal prospect at best but I would be happy to be proven wrong (or even see him traded).

I share your concerns about Ferland, but the comparison to Howse doesn't work for me. Howse only has one real skill (he can shoot), and needs to drag everything else up to snuff to be a player.

Ferland has a wider range of abilities (including; GRITCHART), with his conditioning and attitude being his biggest liabilities.

What about my comment above made people think I seriously thought New Jersey would trade Henrique for Cammalleri??????????? Was it the clearly sarcastic closing statement, or the fact that I started the sentence by saying "I would be perfectly fine..." with doing that trade?

Honestly, that's probably one of the most obviously sarcastic posts I've ever made (well, apparently it isn't).

Keegan Kanzig fought Darren Kramer twice as a 16 year-old they don't come any tougher, he had a hardtime getting fights later this season as no one wanted to fight him. A third was steep, but of all the big defensive projects drafted from the dub or anywhere for that matter (Wheaton, McNeely) this season at least Kanzig plays big recognizing size is biggest asset. Really don't mind him as a project, because at least he could be a serviceable fighter worst case. Wheaton, McNeely not so much both soft and slow of foot.

Never meant to say that NJ should trade Henrique, guess it looks like that, but they were two separate opinions. Meant to say if they traded him fans would have nothing to look forward to for a few years, considering they could be drafting first overal next summer but already lost the pick for the Kovi's deal. Wonder if NHL gives it back...

Oh yeah, Agostino looked real good too. I'm prepared to write this year off, but I don't know why people seem to need to put a time frame on this. By next year, there will be Knight, Monahan, Gaudreau, Agostino, Arnold, Wotherspoon, Poirier, Ferland with a chance to contribute meaningfully, and there are still trades and signings available. Why do we need to write off 5 years right now? I'm still more excited about this year than any of the last 3.

Agostino blew me away in the afternoon session. He's got some tools, skills, quickness etc.. but it's his tenacity. He just seemed to win every single puck battle and just kept fighting/grinding. At one point they were doing a drill where there were too few forwards for a full rotation so he went several times consecutively and still played like a man possessed. Came to watch Jankowski and Poirier, but now I'm gonna go back and watch Agostino. I think this kid could be an unbelievable third line winger with offensive upside, let's hope both he and Johnny are in Flames silks when we talk about them 3 years from now.

In the AM session, Berra and Gaudreau stole the show, also Tim Harrison threw a massive hit (can't remember on who). I went to the ice level after and talked to Craig Conroy and he too was raving about the Harrison hit (can't say much more about the kid's abilities yet tho). Definitely, if I was building a team to play against Flames prospects, Berra would be my starter, made a coupe spectacular down-and-out saves that got the fans going.

I found it interesting that they had them profiled on the Flames site together as they've played against each other for 14 years (I think).

I wonder if the fact that we have all these guys from the NCAA will help convince them away from going the UFA route....

I'm pretty confident with all the college guys. I don't see a lot of other places they'll get the opportunity they will here. The Fan interview with G confirmed he wants to play here, but wants to get an education. I'd guess next year he signs along with Arnold and Agostino. He's added weight this year, he'll be ready by next, and I don't see him giving up another year with a chance to make some real money, and only one year of a degree to finish.

Jankowski is the big key for me on a lot of questions. If he looks like a player it kind of validates the Weisbrod philosophy to me. Perhaps unfair for just one guy but Weisbrod was sold on Jankowski's potential.

Does he look first round draft pick skilled?

The scrimmages will be the litmus test.

I totally agree about Jankowski potentially being a huge key to the Flames' sucess.

If he ends up being an average (or better) top 6 forward he'll have covered the bet on draft day and then some.

I totally agree about Jankowski potentially being a huge key to the Flames' sucess.

If he ends up being an average (or better) top 6 forward he'll have covered the bet on draft day and then some.

Yeah, everybody seems to be making him out as a boom or bust, but he could still just be 3rd line lw too. The first couple of drills today, I was disappointed, but the 1 on 1 stuff... he really looked like he's on another level - from our D prospects anyway.

I'm pretty confident with all the college guys. I don't see a lot of other places they'll get the opportunity they will here. The Fan interview with G confirmed he wants to play here, but wants to get an education. I'd guess next year he signs along with Arnold and Agostino. He's added weight this year, he'll be ready by next, and I don't see him giving up another year with a chance to make some real money, and only one year of a degree to finish.

Funny, but when I listened to Gaudreau's interview on the FAN while stuck in traffic I felt he was guarded. He's a smart kid; he said the right things. But I didn't sense commitment. He said what he had to say, which was and is genuine, at this stage of his career.

I'll bet Guillaume Desbiens Johnny G stays 4 years at Boston College before he goes pro. Further, I get a sense he's from a close family. This may sway him to stay closer to home, when the time comes to make the ultimate decision.

It seems like what's fueling all this Gaudreau defection crap is fear and speculation. Nothing more.

There's a chance it becomes reality, just like there's a chance you'll get hit by a bus tomorrow. In either scenario, the worst can be averted.

I don't have a ton of faith in this management team, but I'm pretty sure they'll take all the precautions to secure Johnny G as an asset - either by signing him to a pro contract or by flipping him for a return when the time comes.

For now, I'm just interested in watching him dominate his age group as a 170 pounder.

personally I'm terrified of Johnny ditching the flames. I heard him coughing today and it sounded a lot like "cough..couboston..cough..couboston..cough" soooo pretty sure that means he's gone as soon as he's done school.

personally I'm terrified of Johnny ditching the flames. I heard him coughing today and it sounded a lot like "cough..couboston..cough..couboston..cough" soooo pretty sure that means he's gone as soon as he's done school.

personally I'm terrified of Johnny ditching the flames. I heard him coughing today and it sounded a lot like "cough..couboston..cough..couboston..cough" soooo pretty sure that means he's gone as soon as he's done school.

personally I'm terrified of Johnny ditching the flames. I heard him coughing today and it sounded a lot like "cough..couboston..cough..couboston..cough" soooo pretty sure that means he's gone as soon as he's done school.

personally I'm terrified of Johnny ditching the flames. I heard him coughing today and it sounded a lot like "cough..couboston..cough..couboston..cough" soooo pretty sure that means he's gone as soon as he's done school.